Srinagar , August 11:(KNS) Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) leader and former legislator Zaffar Iqbal Manhas on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the acute shortage of safe drinking water in district Shopian especially in its sloppy areas.
In a statement issued to KNS,, Manhas said that people in district Shopian particularly in areas like Kralpora, Gattipora, Nasarpora, Do Nadu, Pehlipora, Bori Halan, Check Saidpora, Amshipora, Dachna, etc are immensely suffering for want of safe drinking water in this scorching summer.
The JKAP leader also expressed surprise over the inordinate delay in commissioning of Kralpora-Washroo water scheme which has been completed long ago. “The shortage of drinking water in Shopian especially in its Kandi belt often sparks protests and compels people to come to streets for these basic amenities. I wonder why this water supply scheme has not been made operational when it has been completed by the department to address the water crisis in the area?” he asked.
Manhas said that the shortage of safe drinking water in district Shopian like many parts of the Kashmir valley forces the people to use contaminated water from nearby water bodies and rivers. “I think the Jal Shakti department has turned a blind eye towards the plight of people. By consuming contaminated water, the people in many parts of the valley have witnessed deadly water borne diseases in the past. The demand for safe drinking has assumed much significance in view of the COVID pandemic and the authorities should ensure the uninterrupted supply of safe drinking water to the people,” he added.
He appealed to the district development commissioner Shopian to intervene into the matter and make the Kralpora-Washroo water scheme operational in order to mitigate the miseries of people. “Till this scheme is commissioned, the district administration should ensure that water tankers are pressed into service in areas which face acute shortage of drinking water in the entire district especially in its sloppy areas,” he demanded. (KNS)